India’s water aggression put heavy dent on South Punjab rural economy: Jahan Ara Wattoo

LAHORE, August 21 (SABAH): Vice President of Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) Jahan Ara Wattoo condemned the India’s water aggression towards Pakistan and in result unprecedented flood occurred in Sutlej River with a range of 278,000 cusecs of water in our 35 years. The Sutlej River has overflowed.

Jahan Ara Wattoo said Bahawalnagar, Okara, Lodhran, Kasur Bahawalpur, Vehari and Pakpatan will be the main victim districts from the Indian water aggression.

She condemned the India role and demanded that Pakistan foreign office should protest on it.

In Kasur only, two of the three villagers who drowned in the floodwater had been fished out while the rescue efforts were underway to find the third person. Jamshed of village Athat Singh and Aslam and Mola of village Verram Jhugian wanted to shift to a safer place on their own. They were holding hands due to floodwater but the gushing water swallowed them after separating them.

Separately, over 100 buffaloes of a farmer at village Usmanwala near Ganda Singh were swept away while being transported away from flooding. Many people and animals were stranded in the floodwater as the administration failed to move them out of their houses during the last week despite warnings of heavy floods.

Over in Okara and Tehsil of Depalpur a flood current of 120,000 cusecs is passing in Sutlej River where an emergency has also been declared. The number of

Similarly three Tehsils of Bahawalnagar district i.e Chishtian, Minchinabad and Tehsil Bahawalnagar are also facing severe flood including Tehsil Malsi of district Vehari.

According to Jahan Ara Wattoo, this floodwaters have wreaked havoc on crops like paddy, turmeric, maize, and taro (arvi).

PBF further stated that according to reports India is set to release additional water into the Sutlej today, compounding the crisis. The deluge has already submerged multiple villages, and the situation is critical.

PBF Vice President Jahanara demanded immediate actions from the PDMA and NDMA i.e cleaning bridges for water flows, Protect rural infrastructures, Evacuate populations where the situation is dangerous, Provide fodders for livestock. Help populations in securing food and good health services and Road access to affected areas.